How Can We Know When One Is Translated Into Christ?

How Can We Know When One Is Translated Into Christ?

Dear Bro. John:
"How can we know when God 'translates' one into Christ's kingdom?" Do we not have to determine as best we can if that one obeys and worships and lives according to God's word. Then, even, we are not certain what is inside a man or woman's heart. Only God makes that judgement.

When one is trying to be a Christian, it seems he/she would worship and teach as the scriptures teach. When we observe that one is going beyond or falling short of scripture in their doctrine, then we could conclude that he/she is not pleasing to Him. Other than that, how do we know when that translation is done?
--Dan

Dear Bro. Dan:
Paul writes of the Father "who delivered us out of the power of darkness, and translated us in to the kingdom of the Son of his love, in whom we have our redemption, the forgiveness of our sins" (Col. 1:13). There are a couple of ways we can address your question.

A. We are translated in the kingdom of Christ (Col. 1:13).
B. But one cannot enter the kingdom of God unless and until he is born of water and the Spirit (John 3:5).
C. Therefore one is translated into the kingdom of Christ when he is baptized in water and receives the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38).

or

A. Those translated into the kingdom of Christ have redemption and forgiveness of sins (Col. 1:13).
B. But remission of sins is received when we are baptized in the name of Jesus for that purpose (Acts 2:38).
C. Therefore one is translated into the kingdom of Christ when he is baptized.

Since mortals are not able to read the hearts and motives of men, we can only observe the fruit of their lives. "By their fruits ye shall know them" (Matt. 7:20). Even by observing their fruit, we can sometimes be wrong in our conclusions. Some sinners can pretend to be dedicated Christians when in our presence. Of course they do not fool God for even a moment (Heb. 4:13). There are some sincere and devout people who like Apollos and the twelve men of Ephesus are seeking to serve God but do so on the basis of faulty knowledge. Placed beside a faithful Christian, we might not be able to discern the difference, both manifest the fruits of righteousness, both worship and call on the name of the Lord. But God knows the thoughts and intents of the heart. Such sincere, but mistaken souls need to be taught the way of the Lord more accurately (Acts 18:26).

Every person whom God saves and translates into Christ's kingdom receives the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38). The indwelling Spirit of God is the seal of our salvation (Eph. 1:13). This is pictured in a symbolic way in Rev. 7:3 where the servants of God have his seal on their foreheads. This seal is like the signet mark of the king, like the brand of a rancher on his cattle. It indicates they belong to God. The Holy Spirit in the heart of a man is proof of his salvation and translation into the kingdom of Christ. Thus Rom. 8:9, "If any hath not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his." We cannot see the Spirit-seal on a person, but God can.

One final thought, it is clearly taught that those who have been saved and translated into the kingdom of Christ must be faithful unto death, if they hope to receive the crown of life (Rev. 2:10). Thus Paul writes "The Spirit saith expressly, that...some shall fall away from the faith..." (I Tim. 4:1). When Hymenaeus and Alexander made shipwreck of the faith, Paul delivered them unto Satan (I Tim. 1:19-20). Thus the fact that one was once in the kingdom and serving faithfully is no guarantee that he forever will be. It is his choice to remain faithful or to go back to the ways of the world (II Pet. 2:20-21).

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